Paper-cutting machine and gauge therefor



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Dec. 20, 1927.

De. 2o, 1927. 1,653,303

J. E. MULRONEY PAPER CUTTING MACHINE AND GAUGE THEREFOR Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

UNITEDy STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

JOHN E. MUIIRONEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; MARGARET B. MULRONEY, EXECUTRIX OF SAID JOHN E. MULRONEY, DECEASED, ASSIGNOB TO EDWARD M. BRACKET!!! AND FRED BRACKETT, COPARTNERS, DOING BUSINESS AS THE BRACKETT STRIPPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS. I

PAPER-CUTTING MACHINE AND GAUGE THEREFOR.

Application filed September 19, 1925. Serial No. 57,427.

This invention relates to paper cutting machines and gauges therefor, wherein a knife for cutting or trimming material, such for example as sheets of paper bound or unbound, is mounted in movable relation to a feed table or bed, and a gauge or means for positioning the material or for enabling the paper to be accurately placed and removably held in position to be operated u on.

is provided and adapted to be employe in conjunction with such a knife and feed table or with a paper cutting machine.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient paper cutting machine, and more particularly' to provide an improved adjustable gauge mechanism or paper-positioning and holdingmeans adapted to enable paper to be accurately positioned and removably held Z0 in position to be operated upon by the knife or cutting mechanism of a paper cutting machine, with facility and with safety to the operator.

` Other and further objects of the invention will appear' from the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the Vaccompanying drawings which are made a part hereof. v

The invention consists in the features, combinations, details of construction, and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section, of a paper cutting machine provided with gauge mechanism or paper-positioning and holding means constructed in accordance with my invention, and shows my :improved adjustable gauge and gauge-stopping and releasing or positioning mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation showing my improved' adjustable gauge mechanism or paper 'guiding and r positioning means operatively connected with the movable knife or knife-supporting and operating mechanism of a paper cutting machine such as is shown in Fig. 1;

4 Fig. 3 is an'enlarged detail view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shows the pawl and ratchet mechanism and stopping and releasing means for setting or positioning the adjustable stops for stopping the adjustable or movable gauge in different predetermined adjusted positions successively;v

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of F1 2 and showing the mechanism illustrate in Fig. 3 as it would appear upon being operated automatically by a movement or operation of the'knife and knife-supporting and operating mechanism, whereby the ratchet and the shaft on which it is mounted are rotated' from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in said Fig. 4; Y

Fig. 5 is a horizontal or plan view partly in section, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking downward as indicated by the arrows, and showing a top view of the gau e and gauge-stopping and releasing mec anism shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view showing the movable or adjustable gauge in otperative engagement with an intermediate S Op;

Fig.- 7 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shows the stopsupporting rock shaft in section, provided with a plurality of adjustable stops thereon on and movable therewith into and out of position to be engaged by the stop on the movable or adjustable gauge which extends over the feed table; and

Fig.- 8 is an enlarged. detail view showing one of the adjustable stops on the stop-supportingrock shaft, and the means vfor adjustably connecting the stops with said shaft. Y

In constructing an improved gauge mechanism or paper-positioning and holding mechanism for paper-cutting machines, and a paper-cutting machine provided therewith, in accordance with my invention, I provide a paper cutting machine 1 having a main frame 2, a feed table or paper-supporting bed 3, a reciprocating upwardly and downwardly movable knife or cutter 4, which is located above the level of and extends transversely across and in movable relation to the feed table 3 and machine frame, said knife being slidably supported between upright frame portions or vertical guiding ways 5, 5 formed by opposite upright side frame portions 6 located on opposite sides of the feed table and machine frame and forming a part of said frame. The knife or cutter 4 is mounted in and movable upward and down- 'ward with a pair of slidable knife-supporting and guiding members 7 which are lo-.

anism, which may be of any ordinary andwell known or suitable form, and maycom- V)rise a pair of pitmen or connecting rodsA 8, iocated on opposite sides of the main frame and feed table and each having its upper end connected with a correspon-ding kn-ife supporting member or slide 7 by means of a pivot pin 9, the lower end of each pitman 8 being connected with suitable driving mechanism, such, for example, as an electric motor or source of power 10, by means of a crank shaft 11 having crank arms 12 operatively connected with the lower ends of the pitmen 8 by means of wrist pins 13, or other'suitable connectingr means, the crank shaft 11 beingoperatively connected with the Inotor or source of power 10, by means of a train of gears and suitable Shaft and clutch mechanism which may be ofany de.

sired ordinaryand well known or suitable form.

In the machine shown in the drawings a spur gear wheel 14 is fixed to the rotative crank shaft 11 and is in toothed .engagement with a spur pinion 15 fixed to a counter shaft 16, said counter shaft having a spur gear wheel 17 'thereon which is in toothed engagement with `a pinion 18 on the motor shaft 1S). Suitable clutch mechanism Q0, which may be of any ordinary and well known or suitable form, is provided, for operatively connecting the knife and knife operating or driving mechanism with the motor or source of power, and for disconnecting the same.

An upwardly and downwardly movable clamp bar or paper-clamping member 21 having suitable clamp-operating mechanism which may comprise toothed racks 22 and rotative rack-.operating pinions 23 supported u on the machine frame and operatively conor clamping member 21, is provided and mounted in front of lthe knife and in posi-E tion'to extend transversely across the feed table, so as to releasably engage and hold the paper to be cut or operated upon, in position to extend beneath and to be engaged and cut by the knife while the paper is clamped or held between the clamp and the feed table.

The mechanism above described may be of any desired ordinary and well known or suitable form.' The paper-cutting machine shown in the accompanying drawings is constructed as shown in my application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 734,726 filed August 28, 1924, for improvements in paper-cutting machines'.

j My improved gauge mechanism or paperpositioning and adjustable stops and stopoperating mechanism, however` is intended and adapted to be attached to or used in connection with various firms of paper-cutting machines. Such machines being in common use and well known 'in the art to which this invention relates, it is deemed unnecessary to further describe the same in detail herein.

My improved gauge mechanism or paper* positioning mechanism, which includes a movable gauge and one or more adjustable stops for stopping or positioning such movable gauge, and means'for adjusting orsetting such stop or stops, is constructed and adapted to operate as follows:

A stationary upright gauge or gaugeguide 24 1s mounted upon or adjacent to one side of the feed table 3 and in position to extend at right angles to the knife 4. A movable or adjustable upright transverse gauge 25 is slidably mounted in engagement with and adapted to be guided by said stationary gauge or gauge-guide 24 and in position to extend at right angles to the latter and transversely over or part-way across the upper surface of the feed table and in paralici relation to the knife. The bottoni of the movable gauge 25 is, by preference, in slidable engagement with the top surface of the feed table. and is movable lengthwise of the stationary gauge or gauge-guide E24 to different adjusted positions successively, as required.

'l`he movable transverse gauge 25 is, by preference, provided with a forwardly eX- tending portion or head 26 havingr a top plate or flange portion 27 -which extends over land transversely beyond the top edge of the stationary gauge or gauge-guide Q4. And a. depending flange '3R ontthe top plate 27 slidably engages the outer side of the stationary gauge member Q4. The trant-.verse flanged aru'i portion Q9 of the movable transverse gauge Q5 is adjustably'secured in fixed relavtion to the forwardly extending portion 26 tends through an elongated horizontal'slot in the upright flange portionl 31 of said gauge member 25.

A laterally projecting stop finger 32 is mounted on and pivotally connected with the upper forward portion 26 of the movable transverse gauge 25 by means of a horizontal pivot pin 33. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) The innerend portion 34 of the stop finger 32 is cut away on its inner side so as to permit the outer end of said stop finger to swing upward. The inner end portion 34 thus forms a handle by means of which said stop may be operated when required. And the outer or stop-engaging end of the stop finger 32 is'cut away so as to form a triangular or wedge-like portion 35 having an inclined surface which is adapted to permit the stop finger 32 to pass one or more stops '36, 37, 38, respectively, as the stop finger 32 is moved with the movable gauge 25 in one direction, but cause said stop finger 32 to engage and be stopped by any one or more of said stops 36, 37, 38 whenever such stationary stop or stops are set or adjusted into position to operatively engage or extend into the path of movementof said stop finger and the latter is moved in an opposite direction.

The stationary adjustable stops 3G, 37. 38,-of which there `may be any desired number, and of which a series or set of three are shown in the drawingsare adjustably mounted upon a stop-supporting and operating member or rock shaft 39 which is rockingly or rotatively mounted in suitable bearings in a frame arm or bracket 40 at the forward extremity of the shaft or stop-supporting member 39 and feed table, and in the upright frame portion 6 at the rear eX- tremity of said shaft or stop-supporting member 39. The stop-Supporting member or rock shaft 39 is located outside of the stationary gauge or gauge guide 24 and in parallel relation to the same.

Each of the gauge stops 3 6, 37, 38 is, by preference, adapted to be adjusted or moved to and relea-sably secured indifferent ad' justed positions both lengthwise and circumferentially of said shaft or stop-supporting member 39. And said shaft or stop-support ing member 39 is adapted to be rocked or rotated intermittently or in a step-by-step manner in one direction for setting or moving the stops 36, 37, 38 into position to sue cessively engage and stop the stop finger 32 on the movable transverse gauge 25` in a desired or .predetedmined order, and in an opposite direction to cause said stops 36, 37, 38 to be returned to initial position or out of the path ofy movement of the stop finger 32 on said movable transverse gauge 25.

In order to enable the stops 36, 37, 38 to be adjusted with facility either longitudinally or circumferentially of the shaft or rotative stop-supporting member 39, as desired, each of said stops is, by preference, provided with an annular main body portion in the form of a. sleeve or split ring 41 having projecting ends 42. provided with perforations in which is mounted a clamping screwr 43, for releasably securing said annular split sleeves or bodyportions of the stops in posi? tion upon said shaft 39 ywhich extends through the annular split sleeves or body portions of the said stops thus formed. Each of said stops is also, by preference,

provided with a. spring-pressed securing member in the form of a steel ball or springpressed bolt 44, or equivalent element, mounted in a recess in said stop containing a compression spring 45 held in place by a cap or screw 46 in the projecting end or stopping finger portion of such stop. The rotative or rock shaft 39 is provided with a series of parallel longitudinal peripheral grooves 47, of which there may be any desired number, each adapted to receive any desired or predetermined spring-pressed ball 44V of any corresponding stop 36,' 37 or 38, as the case may be, whenever such stop is adjusted circumferentially of the shaft into position to cause such spring-pressed `member or ball to enter such slot. The front stop ,36, intermediate stop 37 andl rear stopv 38 are thus adapted to be adjusted independently of each other circumferentially of the rotative stop-supporting shaft 39, to as many different adjusted positionsl on said shaft as there are peripheral grooves 47 in the shaft.

For example, the forward stop 36 may be i moved or adjusted circumferentially ofthe shaft into suoli position that its springpressed ball 44 will enter the proper peripheral groove 47 to cause the projecting end of such stop to be the first one of the series of stops to move into andisto'p in the path of movement of the stop-nger 32 on the movable transverse gauge 25, thus causing said movable 'gauge 25 to be stopped in the proper position for positioning the paper with respect to the knife and paper-clamping mem ber. The forward stop 36 thus adjusted, is

in position to serve as the stop for sto ping the movable transverse gauge 25 an the paper engaged by such gauge, in position for the first cut. The' paper-engaging clamp and knife are then operated for making the first cut.

The intermediate stop 37, having been ad-f j usted circumferentially of the shaft or rotative stop-supporting member 39 into such' position that its spring-pressed ball or member 44 will enter another peripheral longitudinal groove 47, 'for example, the groove which will cause said intermediate stop 37 to be the third one of the-series of stops to move into andstop in the path of movement of the stop-finger 32 on the movable transshaft 39 to rotate intermittently and actuate or move the gauge stops mounted on said shaft 'into position to operatively engage said stop-finger 32 on the movable gauge 25 in the required predetermined order for positioning the gauge andthe paper to be cut.

The awl 49 is operated in one direct-ion by the ell crank 51 when the knife 4 and knife supporting slide 7 with the boss 55 are at or near the position reached by the downward stroke of the knife. Each movement of the pawl in the direction required for operating the pawl will cause the ratchet wheel and the shaft 39 to rotate one step, each step corresponding with one ratchet tooth and with a required adjusted position v ofthe movable gauge 25 and a corresponding cut. A spring 56 on the pin: 57 'which supports the pawl and the bell crank 51, serves to return the bell crank and pawl to initial position after each operation of said pawl and the shaft 39 by the downward movement of the knife.

A stopping and releasing pawl or detent 58 is pivotally supported by a pin 59 in position -to engage and release the toothed ratchet wheel 4 8, said detent having a tooth or arm 60, which is adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel, and a lower tooth orarm 61 in fixed relation to the arm 60 and in position to be actuated by a pin 62 forming a boss on the ratchet.

The pin or boss 62 is adjustable to different positions with respect to the ratchet wheel 48, and is, by preference, removably mounted in any desired one of a series of perforations '63, 64, 65, 66, 67, ofv which there may be any desired number in said ratchet' Wheel or similar perforated member fixed to the shaft 39. Each of said perforations corresponds with a .tooth on the ratchet wheel, there being such a tooth and a corresponding perforation for each adjusted position into which the movable transverse gauge 25v is adapted and intended to be moved or adjusted.- And' said movable gauge is of course adapted to be moved to la predetermined position for each cut respectively.

The pin or boss 62 is thus adapted to en* gage and raise or release the pawl or detent 58 from engagement with the toothed ratchet wheel 48 whenever said4 ratchet wheel and the shaft 39 on which it is fixed is rotated a.' sufficient number of steps to cause-the pin or `boss 62 to engage and raise the arm 61 of said detent 58 so as to cause. the arm of finger 60 to be raised out of en agement with the toothed ratchet wheel. (ee Figs. 3 and 4.) v

Whenever the detent ,arm or finger 6() is thus raised out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, the latter and the shaft 39 will be thereby `released and free to return to initial position.L A helical spring 68 is 0peratively connected with and adapted to rotate the shaft 39 and the ratchet wheel and stops fixed to said shaft, to initial position whenever the stopping -and releasing `pawl or detent 58 is released bythe pin 62. The pawl or detent 58 may be termed a latch; and a latch-returning pin 69 on the ratchet wheel 48 is adapted to engage the arm 61 of the latch and return said latch t0 its initial position whenever the ratchet 48 and shaft 39 return to their initial position.

A spring-pressed bolt or yielding stop 70 is mounted ina recessed or socket member 71 in posit-ion to engage one side of ashoulder 72 on the latch or detent 58, for holding said latch in engagement with the ratchet wheel 48, and is adapted to engage the opposite side of said shoulder 72, or a notch 73 in said latch member, for holding the same out of engagement withV the toothed ratchet wheel' 48 when the latter is released for the purpose of permitting it to return to initial position.

eoI

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that by mounting the pin 62 in perforation 63, the latch 58 will be released for permitting the shaft l39 and the gauge-stops thereon to return to initial position upon the com-Y pletion of a predetermined cut, for examplea first cut; that by mounting said pin 62 in another perforation, for example perfora# tion 64, the latch 58 will be engaged by said pin and released and the shaft 39 and its stops 36, 37, 38 will be permitted to return to initial position upon the completion of another predetermined cut or cutting operation, for lexample the second cut; 'and that by mounting the pin 62 in still another perforation, for example perforation 65 the latch 58 will be engaged and the shaft 39 and the stops thereon released and permitted to return to initial position upon the com letion of a correspondin cut, for examp e a third cut, and so on Ior as many cutting operations as may be required.

I claim:

1. In a cuttin machine having a movable knife, the com ination of a feed table, a movable transverse gauge adapted to extend over a portion of the feed table, a` gaugeguide in engagement with said movable transverse gauge, a'series of movable gauge- -stops, and means for moving said gaugesame in different predetermined positions successively.

2. In a cutting machine having a movable knife, the combination of a feed table, a mov able transverse gauge adapted to extend over a portion of the feed table, a gauge-guide in engagement with said movable transverse gauge, a series of gauge-stopsmounted in adjustable relation to each other and to the.

feed table, and means for moving said gauge- Stops into position to operatively engage said movable gauge, for stopping the same in different adjusted positions successively.

3. In a cutting machine having a movable knife, the combination of a feed table, a movablev gauge adapted to extend over a portion of the feed table, a gauge-guide in engagement with said movable gauge, a series of movable gauge-stops mounted in adjustable relation to each other and to the feed table, means for operating the knife, and means operatively connected with the knifeoperating means, for automatically operating said gauge-stops, for stopping the movable gauge in different adjusted positions successively.

4. In a cutting machine, the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gauge adapted to extend transversely overa portion of the feed table, a auge-guide in engagement with said movale gauge, a movable gaugestop for stopping said movable gauge in a predetermined position with respect to the knife, and operating means operatively connected with the knife and with said gaugestop and adapted to automatically move the gauge-stop into position to operatively engage and stop said movable gauge.

5. In a cutting machine, the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gauge located forward of the knife and adapted to extend over a portion of the feed table, means for guiding said movable gauge, a movable gauge-stop' for stopping said movable gauge in a predetermined position with respect to the knife, and operating means operatively connected with the knife and with said gaugestop respectively and adapted to operate said knife and gauge-stop synchronously with respect to each other.

6. In a cutting machine, the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gauge adapted to eX- tend over a portion of the feed table, means for guiding said `movable gauge, a plurality of movable gauge-stops mounted adjacent to said movable gauge, and operating means operatively connected with the lmife and with said gauge-stops and adapted to operate said knife and gauge-stops synchronously with respect to each other.

7 In a cutting machine, the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gauge located forsaid series of gaugestops and adapted to operate said knife and 'said series of gaugestops synchronously with respect to each other.

8. In a cutting machine, the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gauge adapted to extend over a portion of `the feed table, a gauge guide, for guiding the movable gauge, a series of gauge stops, a rotative supporting member upon which said stops are mounted in adjustable relation to each other, means' for rotating said gauge-stop supporting member intermittently, for moving the gauge-stops into position to operatively engage and stop said movable gauge in different predetermined positions successively, and means for operating the knife.

9. Ina cutting machine, the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gauge-adapted to exl0. In a cutting machine, the combinationl of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gau e adapted to extend over a portion of sai feed table and in front of the knife, a plurality ofgauge-stops fory stopping said movable gauge, a rotative supporting shaft upon which said gauge-stops are mounted, means for operating the knife, and shaft-operating means operatively connected with the knife and knife-A operating means and with said rotative stopsupporting shaft, for operating said shaft and gauge-stops.

11. In a cutting machine, the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward of the knife, a movable gauge adapted to extend over a portion of said feed table, a

plurality of gauge-stops, for stopping said l movable lrelation to theknife,.a series of gauge-stops, for stopping said movable gauge, a rotatable stop-supporting shaft upon which said gauge-stops are mounted, means vfor supporting and operating the knife, a ratchet Wheel iXed to said rotative stop-supporting shaft, a reciprocatingl pawl mounted'in engagement with said ratchet Wheel, and pand-operating means 'opera-- tively connected ivith said pawl and with.

said knife-operating means.

13. In a cuttingF machine, .the combination of a knife, a feed table extending forward ofthe knife, amovable Vgauge adapted to extend over a portion of said feed table and in front of the knife, a series of gauge-stops,

gauge-stops are adjustably mounted, pawl and ratchet mechanism operatively connect- `ed with said stop-supporting shaft and adapted to rotate said shaft intermittently in onedirection, for moving said gauge-H stops into position to "operativel engage and stop said movable'gauge in di erent prede-Y termined positions successively, and means for releaslngg'l and returning sald stop-Supporting shaft to initial position.

Signed at Chicago, 1n the county of Cook 'and State of Illinois, this`29th day of August, 1925.

JOHN E. MULRONEY. 

